Greg Siemens

Greg Siemens
Dr.
Greg Siemens
Professor, PhD, P.Eng.
Office:
Sawyer Building, Room 3418
Telephone:
(613) 541-6000 ext 6396 CSN:271-6396
Fax:
(613) 541-6218
E-mail:
Department of Civil Engineering

College Address

Royal Military College of Canada
PO Box 17000, Station Forces
Kingston, Ontario, CANADA
K7K 7B4

Engineering Centre Queen's‑RMC
Department of Civil Engineering
Royal Military College of Canada
13 General Crerar
Kingston (Ontario) Canada K7K 7B4

Research Interests

  • Climate Geotechnics
  • Ground-climate-infrastructure interactions
  • Cold regions engineering
  • Hydraulic-mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soil
  • Physical modeling of hydraulic-thermal systems using transparent soil
  • Constitutive behaviour of swelling soil
  • Hydraulic behaviour of soil-geosynthetic systems
  • Qualified students are actively being sought for projects in these areas. Interested parties should contact Dr. Siemens directly.

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (Geotechnical), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba (Coursework completed at the University of Alberta), 2006
  • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, 2003

Funding

  • Transport Canada National Trade Corridors Fund
  • Government Northwest Territories
  • Imperial Oil Research Grant
  • Canadian Foundation for Innovation
  • Ontario Research Fund: Research Infrastructure
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)
  • Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)
  • Academic Research Program (ARP), Department of National Defence
  • RMC Start-up Funds

Honours and Awards

  • ITA Workshop on Geotechnical Engineering – 25 June 2021 – Invited Lecture
  • Indo-Canadian Workshop on Interactive Design in Geotechnical Engineering: Theory to Practice – 1 October 2020 - Invited Lecture
  • XVI Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 17-20 November 2019 – Invited Lecture
  • 2017 Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium Speaking Tour – Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS)
  • 2015 Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium – Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS)
  • 2014 Editor’s Choice Selection – Canadian Geotechnical Journal
    • Siemens, G.A., Take, W.A. and Peters, S.B. 2014.  Physical and numerical modeling of infiltration including consideration of the pore air phase. Canadian Geotechnical Journal – Thematic Issue on Unsaturated Soils. 51: 1475–1487.
  • 2013 Young Member Award – International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE)
  • 2012 Editor’s Choice Selection – Geosynthetics International
    • Rowe, R.K., Rayhani, M.T., Take, W.T., Siemens, G., and Brachman, R.W.I. 2011.  GCL hydration under simulated daily thermal cycles. Geosynthetics International, 18(4): 196-205.
  • 2010 Honourable Mention for Best Paper in Geotextiles and Geomembranes
    • Siemens, G.A. and Bathurst, R.J.  2010.  Numerical parametric investigation of infiltration in one-dimensional sand-geotextile columns.  Geotextiles and Geomembranes. 28: 460-476.
  • 2006 Canadian Geotechnical Society’s Graduate Student Presentation Award

Publications

Selected Journal Publications

  1. Laporte, S., Eichhorn, G., Kingswood, J., Siemens, G. and Beddoe, R. 2023. Physical modelling of climate-soil-infrastructure interactions of paved roadways constructed in expansive soil. Transportation Geotechnics. In Press and avaliable online: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2023.101126
  2. Clarkson, C., Eichhorn, G.N., Siemens, G. 2023. Centrifuge modelling of axially loaded steel piles in cold and warming permafrost. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. In press and avaliable online at http://doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.22.00062
  3. Mardani, A., Abbaspour, A., Tanyu, B.F., Siemens, G., Likos, W., and Bathurst, R.J. 2023. Large-scale hydraulic performance testing of a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall constructed with recycled concrete aggregate backfill. In press (May 2023), ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal Special Issue on Recycled Materials for Sustainable Geotechnical Construction. In press and avaliable online at http://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20220257
  4. Ross, C.R., Siemens, G.A. and Beddoe, R.A. 2022. Initialization of thermal models for warm and cold permafrost, Arctic Science. 8: 362–394, [https://doi.org/10.1139/AS-2021-0013].
  5. Siemens, G.A., Oldroyd, C., and Beddoe, R.A. 2021. High resolution spatial and temporal degree of saturation measurements for two-dimensional near surface phenomena using unsaturated transparent soil. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 44:(6), 25 pages [https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20200082].
  6. Taylor-Noonan, A., Siemens, G., Cabrera, M.A., Arpin, N.A., Parera, F., and Take W.A. 2020. Stability of saturated granular columns: role of stress-dilatancy and air-entry. Physics of Fluids. 33, 033309 [https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0035029].
  7. Kennedy, R., Take, W.A., and Siemens, G. 2020. Geotechnical centrifuge modelling of retrogressive sensitive clay landslides. Canadian Geotechnical Journal. 58(10): 1452-1465. [https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2019-0677].
  8. Kennedy, R., Siemens, G., and Take, W.A. 2020. On casting of clay specimens of bespoke shear strength and sensitivity for landslide modeling. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. Special Issue on Physical modelling of landslides. 20:(4), 198-211 [https://doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.18.00082].
  9. Abootalebi, P. and Siemens, G. 2019. Short-term thermal modelling of a conceptual deep geological repository in Canada. Environmental Geotechnics, 7(1): 17-31, [https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.18.00027].
  10. Abootalebi, P. and Siemens, G.A. 2018. Thermal properties of engineered barriers for a Canadian deep geological repository. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 55(6): 759-776 [dx.doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2017-0150].
  11. Siemens, G.A., Bathurst, R.J. and Miyata, Y. 2018. Numerical simulation and parametric analysis of multi-anchor walls using the finite element method. Transportation Geotechnics, 15: 57-69 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2018.04.001].
  12. Siddiqua, S., Tabiatnejad, B., and Siemens, G. 2018. Impact of pore fluid chemistry on the thermal conductivity of bentonite-sand mixture. Environmental Earth Sciences, 77:8 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7182-8].
  13. Siemens, G.A. 2017. Thirty-ninth Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium: Unsaturated Soil Mechanics: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, [55:7, 909-927 [doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0709].
  14. Sills, L-A.S., Mumford, K.G., and Siemens, G.A. 2017. Quantification of fluid saturations in transparent porous media. Vadose Zone Journal. 16(2), 2-9 [doi: 10.2136/vzj2016.06.0052].
  15. Martin, E., Mumford, K., Kueper, B., and Siemens, G.A. 2017. Gas formation in sand and clay during electrical resistance heating. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 110: 855-862 [doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2017.03.056].
  16. Lim, B.F. and Siemens, G.A. 2016. A unifying framework for modeling swelling soil behaviour. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 53(9): 1495-1509 [doi: 10.1139/cgj-2015-0049].
  17. Tabiatnejad, B., Siddiqua, S. and Siemens, G.A. 2016. Impact of pore fluid salinity on the mechanical behavior of unsaturated bentonite-sand mixture. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75: 1434, 10 pp. [doi: 10.1007/s12665-016-6246-5].
  18. Siemens, G.A., Mumford, K.G. and Kucharczuk, D. 2015. Characterization of variably transparent soil for heat transport experiments. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal - Special Issue on Transparent Soils. 38:5, 620-630 [doi: 10.1520/GTJ20140218].
  19. Siemens, G.A., Take, W.A. and Peters, S.B. 2014.  Physical and numerical modeling of infiltration including consideration of the pore air phase. Canadian Geotechnical Journal – Thematic Issue on Unsaturated Soils. 51: 1475–1487 [doi: 10.1139/cgj-2013-0447].
    ‘Editor’s Choice’ Selection for CGJ and Complementary Open Access.
  20. Siddiqua, S., Siemens, G., Blatz, J.A., Man, A., and Lim, B.F. 2014. Influence of pore fluid chemistry on the mechanical properties of clay-based materials. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 32: 1029-1042 [doi: 10.1007/s10706-014-9778-z].
  21. Lim, B.F. and Siemens, G.A.  2013.  An unconfined swelling test for clayey soils that incorporates digital image correlation. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal. 36:6 823-833 [doi: 10.1520/GTJ20120220].
  22. Rowe, R.K., Rayhani, M.T., Take, W.A., Siemens, G.A. and Brachman, R.W.I.  2013.  Physical modeling of GCL shrinkage under simulated field conditions. Geotextiles and Geomembranes 40: 12-19 [doi: 10.1016/j.geotexmem.2013.07.008].
  23. Siemens, G.A., Peters, S.B. and Take, W.A. 2013.  Comparison of confined and unconfined infiltration in transparent porous media.  Water Resources Research, 49: 851-863
    [doi: 10.1002/wrcr.20101]. 
  24. Powell, J.S., Siemens, G.A., Take, W.A. and Remenda, V.H.  2013.  Characterizing the swell potential of Bearpaw Shale. Engineering Geology, 158: 89-97
    [doi: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.03.006].
  25. Powell, J.S., Siemens, G.A., Take, W.A. and Remenda, V.H. 2012.  Influence of specimen geometry on sample disturbance observed in oedometric testing of clay shales.  ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 35(5): 771-783 [doi: 10.1520/GTJ104172].
  26. Siemens, G., Take, W.A., Rowe, R.K.R. and Brachman, R.W.I.  2012.  Numerical investigation of transient hydration of unsaturated geosynthetic clay liners.  Geosynthetics International, 19(3): 232-251, [doi: 10.1680/gein.12.00011].
  27. Powell, J.S., Take, W.A., Siemens, G.A. and Remenda, V.H.  2012.  Time dependent behavior of the Bearpaw Shale in oedometric loading and unloading. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 49(4): 427-441, [doi: 10.1139/T2012-004].
  28. Peters, S., Siemens, G., Take, W.A. 2011.  Characterization of transparent soil for unsaturated applications. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal Special Issue on Innovations in Characterizing the Mechanical and Hydrological Properties of Unsaturated Soil, 34(5): 445-456, [doi: 10.1520/GTJ103580].
  29. Rayhani, M.T., Rowe, R.K., Brachman, R.W.I., Take, W.A. and Siemens. G.A. 2011.  Factors affecting GCL hydration under isothermal conditions. Geotextiles & Geomembranes, 29(6): 525-533 [doi: 10.1016/j.geotexmem.2011.06.001].
  30. Rowe, R.K., Rayhani, M.T., Take, W.T., Siemens, G., and Brachman, R.W.I. 2011.  GCL Hydration under Simulated Daily Thermal Cycles. Geosynthetics International, 18(4): 196-205, [doi: 10.1680/gein.2011.18.4.196].1 2011 Editor’s Selection – Geosynthetics International.
  31. Siddiqua, S., Blatz, J.A. and Siemens, G.A.  2010.  Evaluation of pore fluid chemistry on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of clay based sealing materials.  Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 48(2): 119-213, [doi: 10.1139/T10-064].
  32. Siddiqua, S., Blatz, J.A. and Siemens, G.A.  2010.  Experimental study on the performance of light backfill and dense backfill.  Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 48(2): 214-225,
    [doi: 10.1139/T10-057]. 
  33. Siemens, G.A. and Bathurst, R.J.  2010.  Numerical parametric investigation of infiltration in one-dimensional sand-geotextile columns.  Geotextiles and Geomembranes. 28: 460-476 [doi:10.1016/j.geotexmem.20 09.12.0 09].
    2010 Honourable Mention Best Paper Award – Geotextiles and Geomembranes
  34. Siemens, G.A. and Blatz, J.A.  2009.  Evaluation of the influence of boundary confinement on the behaviour of unsaturated swelling clay soils.  Canadian Geotechnical Journal.  46(3): 339-356, [doi: 10.1139/T08-125].
  35. Bathurst, R.J., Siemens, G.A. and Ho, A.F.  2009.  Experimental investigation of infiltration ponding in one-dimensional sand-geotextile columns.  Geosynthetics International, 16(3): 158-172, [doi: 10.1680/gein.2009.16.3.158].
  36. Siemens, G.A., Blatz, J.A., and Ruth, D.G.  2007.  A capillary tube model for transient two-phase flow through swelling soil.  Canadian Geotechnical Journal.  44(12):  1446-1461
    [doi: 10.1139/T07-065].
  37. Blatz, J.A., Anderson, D.E.S. and Siemens, G.A.  2007.  Evaluation of the transitional inelastic behaviour of unsaturated clay-sand mixtures.  Canadian Geotechnical Journal.  44(4):  436-446 [doi: 10.1139/t06-128].
  38. Siemens, G.A. and Blatz, J.A.  2007.  Development of a hydraulic conductivity apparatus for bentonite soils.  Canadian Geotechnical Journal.  44(8):  997-1005 [doi: 10.1139/T07-025].
  39. Siemens, G.A. and Blatz, J.A.  2007.  A triaxial apparatus for applying liquid infiltration with controlled boundary conditions and internal suction measurement.  Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering.  133(6): 748-752 [doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241].
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